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Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 4 - Footballguys

Jene Bramel's Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 4 - Footballguys
By Jene Bramel, September 26, 2018

Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 4 - Footballguys
Photo: Imagn Images

WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

***Alvin Kamara, Chris Carson, Matt Breida, DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, and Rob Gronkowski were all limited on Wednesday. All are tentatively expected to play. Julio Jones did not practice but should play.

***Keenan Allen did not practice with a knee injury. His snap count dipped slightly last week but there are no specific concerns from Los Angeles beat writers. We should know more after tomorrow's practice report.

***JuJu Smith-Schuster did not practice with an abdominal injury. Pittsburgh players who do not practice generally do not play. Thursday's participation report is critical. For now, there's no indication Smith-Schuster will not be available.

***Leonard Fournette returned to another limited practice today. Until he returns to a full practice or the Jaguars report that he'll return to the active roster, continue to consider Fournette questionable.

***Rex Burkhead was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury today. It's unclear what's ailing Burkhead. While he's eligible to be designated to return in eight weeks, the soonest he can return is Week 13.

***Joe Mixon worked on the rehab field today rather than participate in individual drills. If the Bengals clear him for drills tomorrow, there's a chance he'll play. More likely, he'll get another week to rehab and recondition and return in Week 5.

***Darren Sproles and Jay Ajayi did not return to practice. Both remain questionable at best for this week. Ajayi is likely closer than Sproles.

***Marcus Mariota continues to improve and the Titans named him the starter this week. While unlikely to be fully recovered, Mariota showed enough last week to be cleared to return. Blaine Gabbert did not practice and should be considered doubtful.

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:

minnesota at los angeles rams

***Dalvin Cook returned to limited practices on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The Vikings list him questionable. Earlier this week, Cook was adamant he would play. By the end of the week, he wasn't as committed, calling himself a game-time decision. This isn't unusual for running backs and hamstring strains. It takes time for the muscle to fully heal, even with low-grade strains. Running backs may be very close to a full recovery but still notice something when running at near full speed. If so, they are still within the window of risk for aggravation. And teams often prefer to rest backs. I'm not sure that's where Cook's recovery stands, but his inability to fully practice is suspicious. Consider him a game-time decision, but questionable at best. If he is active, it's a good sign but there's no guarantee he'll be ready for a sizable workload. Watch for notes and reports throughout the day on Thursday.

Monday Update: Adam Schefter reported overnight the Vikings will work Cook out in pregame before making a final decision but expect him to play. That's not a rousing recommendation but a good sign Cook could be available for 10+ touches tonight.

***The Vikings defense will be without Everson Griffen and Marcus Sherels this week. The Rams defense will likely be without Marcus Peters and Mark Barron after losing Aqib Talib to injured reserve earlier in the week.

EARly week PRACTICE PARTICIPATION & EARLY EXPECTATIONS

The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team are limiting in practice after the previous week's games. Players limited in mid-week practice aren't necessarily in danger of missing that week's game. But they all need to be watched closely.

*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

Quarterbacks
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Aaron Rodgers GB Knee DNP Limited Expected to Play
Andrew Luck Ind Groin Full Full Expected to Play
Russell Wilson Sea Hamstring Not Listed Full Expected to Play
Marcus Mariota Ten Elbow Full Full Expected to Play
Ryan Tannehill Mia Shoulder Full Full Expected to Play
*Case Keenum Den Knee *Full Expected to Play
Blaine Gabbert Ten Concussion DNP DNP Backup if Active
Sam Bradford Ari Pectoral Limited Limited Backup if Active
Tyrod Taylor Cle Concussion / Back DNP Limited Backup if Active
Running Backs
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Alvin Kamara NO Knee Limited Full Expected to Play
Leonard Fournette Jac Hamstring Limited Limited Game-time Decision
Devonta Freeman Atl Knee DNP Limited Likely Inactive
Joe Mixon Cin Knee DNP DNP Inactive
Giovani Bernard Cin Thigh Limited Limited Expected to Play
Darren Sproles Phi Hamstring DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Jay Ajayi Phi Back DNP Full Likely to Play
Corey Clement Phi Quadricep Not Listed Limited Awaiting Information
Marshawn Lynch Oak Shoulder Limited Limited Expected to Play
Chris Carson Sea Hip Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Matt Breida SF Knee Limited Full Expected to Play
LeSean McCoy Buf Rib Limited Limited Likely to Play
Alfred Morris SF Knee Not Listed Limited Awaiting Information
T.J. Yeldon Jac Ankle DNP Limited Awaiting Information
Marlon Mack Ind Hamstring Limited Limited Likely to Play
*Spencer Ware KC Knee *Full Expected to Play
C.J. Prosise Sea Abdomen DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Jonathan Stewart NYG Foot DNP DNP Likely to Play
Ito Smith Atl Ribs Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Wide Receivers
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Julio Jones Atl Calf DNP Limited Expected to Play
DeAndre Hopkins Hou Thumb / Ankle / Hamstring Limited Limited Expected to Play
Keenan Allen LAC Knee / Tooth DNP DNP Awaiting Information
A.J. Green Cin Pelvis Limited Full Expected to Play
JuJu Smith-Schuster Pit Abdomen DNP Limited Likely to Play
Doug Baldwin Sea Knee Limited Limited Game-time Decision
Jarvis Landry Cle Knee Full Full Expected to Play
Larry Fitzgerald Ari Hamstring DNP Limited Likely to Play
Alshon Jeffery Phi Shoulder / Illness Full DNP Awaiting Information
Quincy Enunwa NYJ Back Full Full Expected to Play
Robby Anderson NYJ Nose Full Full Expected to Play
Will Fuller Hou Hamstring Limited Limited Expected to Play
Randall Cobb GB Hamstring Not Listed Limited Awaiting Information
Marquise Goodwin SF Quadricep Limited Full Expected to Play
Anthony Miller Chi Shoulder DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Josh Gordon NE Hamstring Limited Limited Game-time Decision
Cole Beasley Dal Ankle Limited Limited Likely to Play
Ted Ginn Jr NO Knee Limited Full Expected to Play
Travis Benjamin LAC Foot Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Cody Latimer NYG Knee DNP DNP Likely to Play
Tight Ends
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Rob Gronkowski NE Ankle Limited Limited Expected to Play
Evan Engram NYG Knee DNP DNP Inactive
Jimmy Graham GB Knee DNP Limited Expected to Play
Jack Doyle Ind Hip DNP DNP Inactive
Eric Ebron Ind Shoulder / Knee DNP Full Expected to Play
Austin Seferian-Jenkins Jac Core muscle Limited Limited Expected to Play
Charles Clay Buf Shoulder / Hip Limited DNP Awaiting Information
Tyler Eifert Cin Back Full Full Expected to Play
Tyler Kroft Cin Finger Not Listed Full Expected to Play
*Jake Butt Den Knee *Limited Inactive
Jermaine Gresham Ari Achilles Limited Limited Likely to Play
Hayden Hurst Bal Foot Limited Limited Likely Inactive
A.J. Derby Mia Foot DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Offensive Tackles
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Andrus Peat NO Ankle Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Terron Armstead NO Knee Limited Full Likely to Play
Jack Conklin Ten Knee Full Full Likely to Play
Anthony Castonzo Ind Hamstring DNP Limited Likely Inactive
Ronnie Stanley Bal Foot DNP Full Likely to Play
Joe Barksdale LAC Knee DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Russell Okung LAC Knee Full Full Expected to Play
Bryan Bulaga GB Back Limited Limited Likely to Play
Marcus Gilbert Pit Hamstring Full Full Likely to Play
Donald Penn Oak Concussion Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Marcus Cannon NE Calf Limited Limited Likely to Play
Jermey Parnell Jac Knee Limited Limited Likely to Play
Cordy Glenn Cin Knee Limited Limited Likely to Play
Kelvin Beachum NYJ Foot Full Full Expected to Play
Andre Smith Ari Elbow DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Demar Dotson TB Knee Limited Limited Likely to Play
Joe Haeg Ind Ankle DNP DNP Inactive
Desmond Harrison Cle Shoulder Full Full Expected to Play
Offensive Guards
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
David DeCastro Pit Hand Full Full Likely to Play
Ethan Pocic Sea Ankle DNP DNP Backup if Active
T.J. Lang Det Back Limited Limited Likely to Play
Senio Kelemete Hou Knee Limited Limited Likely to Play
D.J. Fluker Sea Knee Not Listed Limited Likely to Play
Josh Garnett SF Toe DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Mike Person SF Knee DNP Limited Awaiting Information
Gabe Jackson Oak Pectoral Limited Limited Likely to Play
Frank Ragnow Det Knee Not Listed Limited Awaiting Information
A.J. Cann Jac Triceps Limited Limited Awaiting Information
James Carpenter NYJ Ankle Full Full Expected to Play
Photos provided by Imagn Images
Tags Injuries Keenan Allen Robbie Chosen Eli Apple Denico Autry Cole Beasley Travis Benjamin Giovani Bernard Joey Bosa Matt Breida Rex Burkhead Calais Campbell Chris Carson Corey Clement Randall Cobb Dalvin Cook Darqueze Dennard Jack Doyle Eric Ebron Evan Engram Trey Flowers Dee Ford Leonard Fournette Devonta Freeman Will Fuller V Blaine Gabbert Myles Garrett Markus Golden Marquise Goodwin Josh Gordon Jimmy Graham A.J. Green Everson Griffen Rob Gronkowski Mike Hilton Malik Hooker DeAndre Hopkins Hayden Hurst Micah Hyde Bruce Irvin Adoree' Jackson Julio Jones Cameron Jordan Karl Joseph Alvin Kamara Damontae Kazee Case Keenum Kevin King Christian Kirksey Dre Kirkpatrick Tyler Kroft Jarvis Landry DeMarcus Lawrence Shaq Lawson Marlon Mack Marcus Mariota Marcus Maye Gerald McCoy Takk McKinley Steve McLendon Anthony Miller Joe Mixon C.J. Mosley Robert Nkemdiche Emmanuel Ogbah Marcus Peters Damarious Randall Aaron Rodgers Eric Rowe Richard Sherman Ito Smith JuJu Smith-Schuster Ryan Tannehill Jaquiski Tartt Tyrod Taylor Vita Vea Bobby Wagner Anthony Walker Jr. J.J. Watt Quincy Wilson Russell Wilson Ahkello Witherspoon Xavier Woods K.J. Wright

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